Lanka applies for WHO certification on malaria-free status

Sri Lanka has applied for World Health Organization (WHO) certification on malaria-free status, which is a milestone in the history of health and development of the country.

National Programme Manager of Maternal and Child Morbidity and Mortality Surveillance Dr. Kapila Jayaratne said the country has steadily reduced the malaria cases from over 4,00,000 in 1991 to zero cases by November 2012, reports Lanka Page.

Dr. Jayaratne said that Lanka would be celebrating the fourth consecutive malaria-free year but added there are high risk groups, which pose a threat to the malaria-free status.

The Lankan businessman and traders, who travel frequently to India and other neighboring countries, engaged in the gem business in African countries like Madagascar and Mozambique are highly prone to the disease.

Dr. Jayaratne said the Sri Lankan military personnel returning from peace-keeping missions in the African region and the Sri Lankans returning from work or leisure trips abroad - mainly from Africa and East and South Asia - are the high risk groups.

Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition of malaria-free status granted by the WHO.